Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Abstract

The Myers-Brigs Type Indicator® (MBTI) is an instrument designed to map psychological personality types, in order to understand group dynamics and better manage e.g. project groups. This article will outline and describe the 16 different MBTI® personality types indicated by a four-letter abbreviation representing the preference of the person within each of the four dichotomies; introversion (I)/extraversion (E), sensing (S)/intuition (N), thinking (T)/feeling (F), and judging (J)/perceiving (P).

The theory behind the MBTI® will only be briefly discussed, since focus will be on the application and limitations of the instrument.

Introduction

Understanding human behaviour is key to understanding group dynamics and is therefore vital in projects and the management of these. The Myers-Brigs Type Indicator® (MBTI) is an instrument designed to map psychological personality types. The MBTI® is a questionnaire that indicates a person’s preferences within four dichotomies, i.e. opposite preferences on a continuous scale, in how people perceive the world and make decisions. There are two pairs of psychological functions. The irrational information gathering or perceiving; sensing/intuition, and the rational decision-making or judging; thinking/feeling. The two pairs and the perceiving/judging functions make up three of the four dichotomies. The forth is the attitude towards the surrounding world; extraversion or introversion. MBTI® describes 16 different personality types according to two outcomes in each of the four dichotomies; introversion (I)/extraversion (E), sensing (S)/intuition (N), thinking (T)/feeling (F), and judging (J)/perceiving (P). A given personality type is indicated by a four-letter abbreviation representing the preference of the person within each pair, e.g. ENTJ, INFP etc.